Couplings for electrical conductors



J1me 1955 w. J. KOLSTAD COUPLINGS FOR ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS Filed July 15, 1950 by W United States Patent COUPLINGS FOR ELECTRICAL CoNDUCToRs Welding J.'Kolstad, Milton, Mass.

Application July 15, 1950, Serial No. 174,004

2 Claims. Cl. 339-405 This invention relates to improvements in couplings for electrical conductors and it has for its primary object to provide a secure, reliable and improved coupling by which two electrical conductors may be readily connected and disconnected mechanically and electrically and also shielded against contact with other objects.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention each of thetwo conductors that are to be joined is provided at an end thereof with a metallic socket terminal within which said end is fixed, said socket terminal being made at its outer end with a plurality of spaced-apart segmental axially disposed tang extensions intermeshing with the tang extensions of the other terminal. The two socket terminals, including the exposed portions of their intermeshed segmental tang extensions, are exteriorly threaded longitudinally and when intermeshed the assembled tang extensions form a composite exteriorly threaded cylindrical structure on to which is screwed an interiorly threaded tubular housing jacket or sleeve of insulating material whose threads mesh with the threads of all of the tines thereby to lock the two terminals against separating.

Other features of the invention are hereinafter pointed out.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of a coupling constructed in accordance with this invention showing the same applied to the ends of two cables.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2--2 of Fig. 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of one of the socket terminals hereinafter described.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of one of the two tubular jacket sleeve sections hereinafter described.

Figure 5 is a side elevation of the other tubular jacket section hereinafter described.

Figure 6 shows the parts of the coupling of Fig. 1

occupying separated relationship but axially alined and positioned preparatory to intermeshing the tines of the two socket members hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings 1, 1, represent the ends of two cables each of which comprises a metallic conductor core 2 having the usual covering 3 of rubber or other insulating material.

At 4, 4, are two brass socket terminals each of which is a duplicate of the other and is characterized in that it is formed at its one end with a counterbore or socket 5 within which is soldered, brazed or otherwise fixed, a bared end portion of the core 2 of one of the cables 1, while its opposite end portion is provided with two axial tang extensions 6 and 7 (Fig. 3) that are spaced apart laterally to provide between them a slot 8, said slot being of the same width approximately as that of the tang 7.

Since the two socket terminals 4 are preferably of the same size and construction it will be clear that when the two cable ends thus equipped with terminals are brought into positions where they are axially alined as in Fig. 6 the tines 6 and 7 thereof may be intermeshed by forcing the terminals together endwise.

" ice The extremities of all ofthe tines 6 and 7 are beveled as at 14, Fig. 3, to assist in moving them endwise into proper intermeshed relationship. Also, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the contacting longitudinal faces of the tines are made fiat from side to side and from end to end so as to provide extensive current-passing surface contact between the two sets of tines when the coupling has been assembled.

The tines 6 and 7 of both socket terminals are preferably all of the same length so that when the two termi nals 4 of Fig. 6 are intermeshed by endwise movement toward each other the free end of the inner-tine 7 of each seats against the bottom 9 of the slot 8 of the other terminal, while the free end of the tine '6 of each terminal seats against a radial shoulder 10 provided upon the other terminal radially opposite the bottom 9 of the slot 8 of said other terminal.

In fabricating the two socket terminals 4 their tines are fully intermeshed as described and while securely held in such intermeshed condition-the exteriors of both terminals, including their segmental tines, are formed with one or more continuous screw threads 11 as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 6.

Otherrnethods of fabricating the socket terminals-4 may be substituted, if desired, so long as the exterior thread segments upon the exposed portions of the tines are brought into register when the tines are fully intermeshed.

The threading upon the exteriors of the intermeshed socket terminals 4 and their tines is provided for engagement with short lengths of threading 12 and 121 provided, respectively, upon the interiors of two exteriorly cylindrical tubular jacket sections 13 and 131 of insulating material each of which is rotatably mounted upon one of the socket terminals 4 in retracted position as shown in Fig. 6 where its internal threads are out of engagement with the threading on the tines. Thus, after fully intermeshing the tines of Fig. 6 the jacket section 13 can be screwed forwardly into position where its threading 12 is meshed with the threading of all of the tines and the proximate ends of the jacket sections 13 and 131 are forced into abutting engagement so that each serves as a locknut for the other as shown in Fig. 1.

The inner end of the jacket section 131 is made with a counterbore 16 into which a nipple 17 provided upon the inner end of jacket section 13 is slidably fitted telescopically when section 13 is screwed forwardly on the meshed socket terminals 4, 4, toward the jacket section 131. The jacket section 13 is made with a radial shoulder 18 at the inner end of nipple 17 to seat against the end of jacket section 131 as shown in Fig. 1.

In the assembled coupling the internal threads 12 of jacket section 13 surround all of the tines and are in mesh with the thread segments of all of the latter thus locking the two socket terminals 4, 4, against endwise displacement relatively.

After the socket terminals 4 have been fixed to the ends of the conductor cores 2 the tubular jacket section 13 is screwed on to one of the socket terminals 4 until stopped by the engagement of its internal threading 12 with an unthreaded outer end portion 15 of said socket terminal. The other jacket section 131 is likewise applied to the other socket terminal 4 with its internal threading 121 against the unthreaded outer end portion 15 of its socket terminal 4. Thereafter the tines of the two socket members 4 are intermeshed by moving the two members 4 together endwise to the limit of their relative movement in that direction vafter which jacket section 13 is screwed forwardly on the meshed tines to fit the nipple 17 telescopically within counterbore 16 and to bring shoulder 18 into tight abutting engagement with the end of jacket section 131. Thus the long angular joint provided at the telescoped inner ends of the jacket sections 13 and 131 is substantially leak proof.

When the conductor 2 that is connected with the jacket section 131 is a live conductor then the section 131 is preferably made of sufiicient length to comp etely inclose its socket terminal, including the tines thereof, as shown in Fig. 6 thereby to avoid accidental contact of said tines with other objects.

By making the socket terminals 4, 4, of brass or other compliant metal it is possible to pinch the two tines 6 and 7 of either terminal toward each other slightly by finger pressure so that they converge slightly toward their free ends thereby to cause them to firmly grip the tine 7 of the other terminal that is between them when the device is completely assembled. As originally produced, however, the inner proximate surfaces of the tines 6 and 7 of each terminal 4 are relatively parallel and the inner surface of the tine 7 of each pair is coincident with the axis of its terminal. This permits each socket terminal 4 to be made as a duplicate of the other and, when the two terminals are intermeshed, to provide the exteriorly threaded cylindroidal assemblage referred to above.

What I claim is:

1. A coupling for electrical conductors comprising two metallic socket terminals disposed end to end in axial alinernent, each of said terminals being made at its one end with a plurality of straight relatively parallel tine extensions which are intermeshed with the tine extensions of the other terminal to form a composite cylindroidal body that is screw threaded upon its exterior, and an adjustable tubular interiorly threaded jacket of insulating material surrounding said socket terminals with its threads in engagement with the threads of all of said tines thereby to hold said tines against relative displacement in any direction.

2. A coupling for electrical conductors according to claim 1 wherein a second interiorly threaded tubular jacket of insulating material is mounted upon and has threaded engagement With said body so that when the two jackets are screwed together into endwise abutting engagement they mutually hold each other against relative rotative displacement.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNlTED STATES PATENTS 534,732 Titcomb Feb. 26, 1895 664,239 Doane Dec. 18, 1900 904,522 Firrnan Nov. 24, 1908 1,975,244 Wiseman Oct. 2, 1934 2,059,098 Marquart Oct. 27, 1936 2,125,816 Reynolds Aug. 2, 1938 

